That phrase sounds like a contradiction in terms. The Lake District’s landscape has been shaped by centuries of sheep and cattle farming. It is still the dominant form of land management here. Grass is what we grow best or so we are told. So is it possible to look after the land and contribute positively to it’s landscape without having to raise sheep and cattle for meat?

So far the summer of 2015 has been abysmal for making hay up here in the Lake District. We need a good 4 to 5 days of reasonably sunny weather to dry the cut grass before baling and storing it in the barn for winter. One could, of course, buy in hay which would save a lot of work and angst but our species rich meadow hay, I believe, keep our ponies healthier than they would be on your regular rye grass hay that would be for sale.

It has been largely cool, wet and windy this past week but that hasn’t kept our bees in the hive. The lime trees are still in blossom, bramble in the hedgerow is in full flower, heather on Tom Heights above Tarn Hows paint the hillside pink and purple, clover speckles white and red in the still uncut hay meadows and garden flowers such as geranium, astrantia, campanula and daisy, all good nectar and pollen plants for bees still dance in cool breeze. Next week rosebay willow herb will be out, another favourite bee plant.

In the garden we try to incorporate wild flowers along with more conventional perennials and shrubs to make it attractive to our bees and other pollinating insects. This year has been a good year for our bees and it seems for bumble bees as well as the garden hums with the sound of them.